It’s official: Astros retain Biggio as special assistant

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The Astros are nearing submission of a new 2013 uniform to Major League Baseball for approval, and while team owner Jim Crane couldn’t share specific details, he did suggest the old colors are coming back.

“We’ll blend some of the new with the history of the team and some of the colors in the past,” Crane said. “We’ve selected it all, and we’re about to submit it. We’re due in on the 30th, so everything’s set to go to baseball for approval.”

The Astros have had one of the most colorful uniform histories in all of baseball. Beginning with the Colt .45s, the transition to the Astros saw lots of oranges and blues, with the shooting star jersey of the late 1960s and early 70s and the rainbows of the late 70s the most recognizable.

Ultimately, the 2000s saw a change to the current brick red, an homage to the new ballpark but also Drayton McLane’s preference for red, which was the color of the McLane Company.

Crane expects little delay in approval, but he can’t reveal the uniform until after the 2012 season. Focus groups have been a large part of his process to determine the new uniforms.

“We’ve gone to great lengths in getting everyone involved, including the guy who washes the uniform, the locker room guys, the players, the fans, everybody involved in the process.”

Schafer sits with injured toe

Jordan Schafer missed Wednesday’s game with a toe injury that he originally suffered when he fouled a ball off his foot in the Texas series.

After the swelling continued to worsen and he endured a sleepless night, Schafer on Wednesday saw a doctor, who performed a minor procedure with the nail.

“He tried to put on a shoe this morning, and he couldn’t do it,” manager Brad Mills said. “Hopefully, he’ll be OK by the trip (starting Friday in Los Angeles).”

With righty Jeff Samardzija on the mound, the Astros still got two lefties in the outfield, with Brian Bogusevic moving over to center field and Travis Buck starting in right.

Odds and ends

Craig Biggio’s retention as a special assistant has been formalized, owner Jim Crane said. Biggio had still been working with the club since his contract lapsed, but he again has an official title. “We really want to emulate the franchise off of the way he played,” Crane said. … The Astros on Wednesday announced a partnership with Silver Eagle Distributors. For every Astros walk-off win, the Budweiser distributor will donate $5,000 to the Folds of Honor Foundation for military families. … Former Astros bullpen coach Jamie Quirk, now the Cubs’ bench coach, managed the series finale. Dale Sveum was on leave for a family event.